Apple today announced its annual charts recognizing the most popular podcasts and channels of 2025, providing a comprehensive look at the audio content that captivated listeners globally throughout the year. The company’s data-driven rankings are complemented by a curated editorial selection of the year’s most outstanding shows.
Charting the Most Listened-To Shows
The 2025 charts offer multiple views into the year’s biggest audio hits, reflecting listener behavior across key metrics. Listeners can explore the full collection of charts on the New tab of the Apple Podcasts app through the end of the year.
The key rankings include:
- Top Shows: The definitive list of the most popular podcasts of the year, based on overall listenership.
- Top New Shows: Recognizing the biggest breakout hits and programs that debuted in 2025.
- Most Followed Shows: Podcasts that generated the largest number of new followers during the year.
- Most Shared Shows: Highlighting the content listeners shared most frequently with friends and across social media.
- Top Channels: A ranking of the most popular subscription channels, based on listenership.
The rankings are localized, providing listeners with both a global and regional perspective on the year’s audio trends.
Editorial Excellence: The Best Shows of the Year
In addition to the data-driven rankings, Apple’s editorial team has compiled the Best Shows of 2025. This specially curated collection features standout podcasts that resonated most with the editors across over 15 markets.
Apple will reveal its ultimate Apple Podcasts Show of the Year on December 4, recognizing a single program for its unparalleled quality, innovation, and impact.
2025 Chart Highlights
The definitive charts showcase the enduring popularity of established hits and the rapid rise of new programs:
| Top Shows | Top New Shows |
| The Joe Rogan Experience | Good Hang with Amy Poehler |
| The Daily | Not Gonna Lie with Kylie Kelce |
| The Mel Robbins Podcast | Deadly Mirage |
| Crime Junkie | Blink |
| Dateline NBC | Murder in the Moonlight |
The most compelling limited series of the year included: The Telepathy Tapes, The Binge Cases, Deadly Mirage, Serial, and CounterClock.
